Alliance PS (Lockbox)

Introduction

Unit’s partnership with Alliance PS allows clients to support lockbox-based check processing.

This partnership is designed for platforms that still receive a meaningful volume of check payments and want to outsource physical mail handling and scanning, while continuing to use Unit’s APIs to initiate deposits and funds movement.

Benefits

Enable your customers to receive and deposit mailed check payments through a managed lockbox, with funds settling directly into accounts powered by Unit.

Customer Experience

Alliance PS operates physical lockboxes on behalf of platforms.

Alliance is responsible for:

• Receiving mailed checks at a dedicated lockbox address
• Opening mail and scanning checks
• Performing OCR and extracting check data
• Generating check images and associated metadata

Alliance does not hold funds or move money. All deposit processing is initiated via Unit’s APIs and completed by the partner bank.

Unit continues to handle:

• Check deposit submission via the mRDC API
• OCR validation and check image ingestion
• X9 file generation
• Funds movement instructions to the partner bank via Unit’s infrastructure
• Account balances, reporting, and settlement

The underlying deposit flow remains the same as standard Unit check deposits. The only difference is the source of the check images.

Implementation Paths

Note

Platforms can integrate with Alliance lockboxes in one of two ways. Contact your Customer Success Manager for guidance on what solution is best for your organization.

Option 1: Vendor-managed deposit submission

This model minimizes platform involvement in deposit operations, and requires no development work on the client's end.

1. Your customers’ checks are mailed to an Alliance lockbox address.
2. Alliance endorses checks (for mobile deposit at [bank]).
3. Alliance scans checks and extracts required fields.
4. Alliance submits check images directly to Unit’s mRDC API.
5. Funds are deposited into end-user bank accounts powered by Unit.

Notes:

• Client does not handle check images or deposit submission.
• Only check images required for deposit are passed through.
• Non-check documents (e.g. invoices, remittance documents) are not surfaced to the client.

Option 2: Platform-managed deposit submission

Suggestion

Platform-managed deposit submission is best when the platform wants more control over review, reconciliation, or UI presentation.

1. Your customer’s checks are mailed to an Alliance lockbox address.
2. Alliance endorses checks (for mobile deposit at [bank]).
3. Alliance scans checks and extracts data.
4. Alliance delivers check images and remittance data to the client
5. Client submits check images to Unit’s [mRDC API] (https://www.unit.co/docs/api/check-deposits/).
6. Funds are deposited into end-user bank accounts.

Notes:

• Platforms can display additional documents provided by Alliance.
• Deposit mechanics and settlement remain unchanged.
• The platform owns pre-deposit review and submission logic.

Example

Assume a property management platform processes rent and HOA payments.

• Tenants mail checks to an Alliance lockbox.
• Alliance digitizes the checks.
• Deposits are processed through the Unit mRDC API. Whether Alliance or the platform submits deposits depends on the selected integration model.
• Funds settle into bank-held accounts through Unit.

Note

Lockbox services are provided by Alliance PS, which is not a bank. Unit is a financial technology company and is not a bank. Banking products and services are provided by one or more of Unit’s partner banks, Members FDIC.